Cadman announces resignation as dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine

HONOLULU — At a meeting of the Board of Regents today at Leeward Community College, Dr. Ed Cadman announced that he will not return as Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). He will return to the medical school faculty as a professor effective August 8, 2005.

Dr. Cadman told the regents that he has been diagnosed with a neuro-degenerative disorder called Primary Progressive Aphasia, a language based dementia which affects the brain‘s ability to express thoughts verbally and sometimes in writing. Dr. Cadman has been on leave from his position as dean of the medical school since February 2005.

"During these past few months, I have been blessed with the outpouring of support, not only by my friends, but by strangers as well. I want to thank them all for their cards, letters, e-mails and prayers. I want to especially thank the students, faculty and staff of the medical school who were so kind to me," said Dr. Cadman.

Ed Cadman was appointed Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine in 1999. He has been the driving force behind the successful creation of the medical school‘s new campus at Kakaʻako. Under his leadership during the past five years, JABSOM has attained full accreditation through 2008 — 2009 and is poised to anchor the state‘s biotech and life sciences industries.

"When I came to Hawaiʻi in 1999, there was a fledgling biotechnology industry and a desire by the state to strengthen the industry and diversify the economy. I articulated your vision for this industry. It is your vision, not mine. Embrace it, surround it and build it," said Cadman.

He added, "The Board of Regents and the UH leadership took the courage to believe in my dreams and the new medical school would not have happened without their support and timely decisions."

"JABSOM‘s new facilities in Kakaʻako would not have been realized without Ed‘s tireless efforts," said UH Interim President David McClain. "Its completion will serve as a testament to his dedication to the school and to Hawaiʻi. He leaves the medical school on a steady track for continued success."

"In his five years as dean of the medical school, Dr. Cadman has made a tremendous impact on not only the school and university, but the entire state of Hawaiʻi. He has taken the medical school to a higher level of performance for our students making it a leading institution for both medical education and research," said Board of Regents Chair Patricia Lee.

Prior to joining the University of Hawaiʻi, Dr. Cadman was the Chair of Medicine and Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. He was also the Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief of Staff at Yale New Haven Hospital.

About the University of HawaiʻiEstablished in 1907 and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the University of Hawaiʻi is the state‘s sole public system of higher education. The UH System provides an array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and community programs on 10 campuses and through educational, training, and research centers across the state. UH enrolls more than 50,000 students from Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland, and around the world. For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu.